Earn
NSW wage freeze war to continue
NSW public sector workers will see their case to maintain a yearly 2.5 per cent wage increase taken to the Industrial Relations Commission after the upper house blocked the government from wielding such power.
NSW wage freeze war to continue
NSW public sector workers will see their case to maintain a yearly 2.5 per cent wage increase taken to the Industrial Relations Commission after the upper house blocked the government from wielding such power.
Calling it a “sad day”, state treasurer Dominic Perrottet said Labor and the cross-bench had shown “little regard” for the “thousands lining up outside Centrelink and approaching charities for food hampers because they can no longer afford to put food on the table”.
More than 400,000 workers would be affected by the pay freeze — those under around 70 public sector awards — including frontline nurses, paramedics, police officers and public transport workers who have played a key role as “essential workers” through the pandemic.
“At a time when there are hundreds of thousands of people out of work, the creation of new jobs must be our top priority, not giving those with job security a pay rise,” Treasurer Perrottet said.
The voting down of the freeze followed the offer of a $1,000 bonus to frontline workers and a 12-month job guarantee.
Shadow treasurer Walt Secord called the government’s move a “bit of a Sophie’s choice” in parliament.
Highlighting how the government had offered affected workers a $1,000 payment if they approved the wage freeze, Mr Secord said that when that negotiation failed, “she threatens them — and she says, ‘If you don’t take that $1,000 and you don’t take the pay cut, we’ll sack you’.
“But this is about priorities.
“She should be stimulating the economy, [and] getting cash flowing.”
According to Mr Perrottet, “this hasn’t been an easy decision, but it is fair and it’s the right decision right now”.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian had previously said that “the only way NSW will come out of this crisis in a strong position is if we all make sacrifices, and that’s what we’re asking our own workforce to do because we are all in this together”.
Celebrating the “big win” after moving to disallow the wage freeze, leader of the opposition Jodi McKay said in a tweet that “the wage cut for more than 400,000 workers has been rejected by parties across the spectrum, representing left, right, city and country”.
“For the Berejiklian government to press on would be in defiance of the NSW Parliament and all accepted economic wisdom,” she stated.
“When workers earn more money, they spend more money.”
About the author
About the author
Salary
Is Australia headed for the ‘Great Resignation’?
A wave of resignations from Australian workers is expected in the next six months. ...Read more
Salary
Earnings surge in lockdown, but is a slump ahead?
A new report from CBA has shown that it may actually pay to be in lockdown, as growth in household income surged ahead in NSW and Victoria. ...Read more
Salary
RBA sets sights on 4% unemployment
The RBA has updated its key objectives in order to jolt the Australian economy into growth, including a two-decade low unemployment rate of 4 per cent. ...Read more
Salary
Aussie women required to work 61 extra days to earn the same pay
61 days is how much extra time a woman must spend in the workforce to achieve the same financial outcome as her male counterpart, with the gender gap expected to grow further, research has revealed. ...Read more
Salary
Pandemic sees spike in remote-work job postings
Businesses are looking far and wide to attract key staff members as lockdowns accelerate the move towards online working, meaning businesses can now attract staff who do not need to be in the office, ...Read more
Salary
Workers, businesses wait on lockdowns before deciding next moves
Australian businesses and staff alike are waiting to see what will happen post the COVID-19 pandemic before deciding whether to increase staffing levels or change their jobs, government figures have s...Read more
Salary
Unemployment falls to record low but worrying trends emerge
Australia’s official unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest point since 2008, but that is not a sign of a resilient jobs market, official figures have revealed. ...Read more
Salary
Labour shortages fail to lift wages
Despite the business community’s hunger for new workers, Australia’s wage growth remains stagnant, official figures have revealed. ...Read more
APRA’s mortgage crackdown, the power of DeFi and last-minute tax tips
Listen now
What to expect as the end of lockdown looms? Will the Stage 2 tax cuts boost your tax return? Where should investors be looking as the economy reopens?
Listen now
Could property prices inflate by another 20%? What’s happening in recent dividend announcements? Did your fund fail the YFYS test?
Listen now
What does the NSW regional permit mean for property investors? Who really wins from the BHP-Woodside merger?
Listen now
Salary
Is Australia headed for the ‘Great Resignation’?
A wave of resignations from Australian workers is expected in the next six months. ...Read more
Salary
Earnings surge in lockdown, but is a slump ahead?
A new report from CBA has shown that it may actually pay to be in lockdown, as growth in household income surged ahead in NSW and Victoria. ...Read more
Salary
RBA sets sights on 4% unemployment
The RBA has updated its key objectives in order to jolt the Australian economy into growth, including a two-decade low unemployment rate of 4 per cent. ...Read more
Salary
Aussie women required to work 61 extra days to earn the same pay
61 days is how much extra time a woman must spend in the workforce to achieve the same financial outcome as her male counterpart, with the gender gap expected to grow further, research has revealed. ...Read more
Salary
Pandemic sees spike in remote-work job postings
Businesses are looking far and wide to attract key staff members as lockdowns accelerate the move towards online working, meaning businesses can now attract staff who do not need to be in the office, ...Read more
Salary
Workers, businesses wait on lockdowns before deciding next moves
Australian businesses and staff alike are waiting to see what will happen post the COVID-19 pandemic before deciding whether to increase staffing levels or change their jobs, government figures have s...Read more
Salary
Unemployment falls to record low but worrying trends emerge
Australia’s official unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest point since 2008, but that is not a sign of a resilient jobs market, official figures have revealed. ...Read more
Salary
Labour shortages fail to lift wages
Despite the business community’s hunger for new workers, Australia’s wage growth remains stagnant, official figures have revealed. ...Read more
More articles
Website Notifications
Get notifications in real-time for staying up to date with content that matters to you.
